Talking to your children

When a parent or family member is diagnosed with cancer, it is normal to worry about how to tell your children and how they will react. Each child is different and will handle news of illness in a unique way. Park Nicollet offers many resources to help you and your family.

Remind yourself that you know your children better than anyone, and you know how they usually deal with difficult situations. Your children are much stronger than you think and, because they love you, they will handle what you tell them.

It is crucial to always be truthful when you talk with your child about your cancer, although being honest with your children does not always mean telling them everything. Children can understand and take in different levels of information at different ages, and you know what your child is able to understand and absorb.

At all ages, children need to be told:

• cancer is a serious illness
• the name of the disease
• what might happen in the near future (as best you can tell them)

For more, view these resources or contact Frauenshuh Cancer Center to speak with our oncology psychotherapist.